ILOILO City, A Humble City in the Heart of the PHILIPPINES

"I came upstairs into the world; for I was born in a cellar. A home is a birthplace ratified by memory which I believed to be unforgettable. A place surely and forever is a part of my life."

It's been a while since I left Iloilo, a place where I am very familiar with and close to my heart. I have been traveling in the Philippines and been seeing a lot of places but what makes this place special?

Iloilo is home to century-old churches, mansions, and ancestral homes. A haven for beach lovers and height trekking fellows enjoying the great scenery of the mountains. A land of festivals both cultural and religious. Above all home of the peace-loving people. Iloilo City as the center is called the country "The CITY of LOVE" for its soft-spoken and passionate people; It is forty-five minutes away by plane from Manila the country's capital and is strategically located in the heart of Panay Island in the Visayas. It is considered to be the center of trade, business, and entertainment in Panay. Having an international airport and good ports surely ease of travel for tourist and businessmen alike.

Events and festivals happen all year round; It started with the NEW YEAR CELEBRATION followed by the famous DINAGYANG FESTIVAL a long week celebration in honor of SENIOR STO. NINO wherein tribes are wearing costumes and painted their skin black and do merrymaking in the streets. There is also a CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION by our Chinese Brother Community where Chinese Cultural programs are held in the City. The LENTEN SEASON is also celebrated with the reenactment of the death and passion of JESUS CHRIST in some towns and also the famous PARAW REGATTA a hand-painted sailboat dominating the shores of VILLA BEACH. SANTA CRUZAN every May is also celebrated here. There are also CULTURAL and RELIGIOUS FIESTAS celebrated in every town. Here every BARANGAY, every TOWN has its festivals and fiestas. Down the last quarter, ALL SOULS and SAINTS DAY are celebrated with some cultural programs. The most colorful from this is by DECEMBER where every town has to compete in either lanterns or Christmas trees dominating the night with bright and colorful lights. There are also street dancing and merry-making contest in almost every town in the province.

Food also is good, aside from the native food offered here, you will not miss also international dishes from other countries; its array of restaurants and bars are offering sumptuous and appetizing cuisine in your taste choices. Iloilo is famous for its LAPAZ BACHOY, PANCIT MOLO, CHICHEN INASAL, KBL (my comfort food), and a lot more. Iloilo is a haven for party goers for it offers great party establishments and complexes that will rock you. The city is also considered as an EDUCATIONAL CENTER in the Philippines wherein a lot of schools and universities producing high-quality graduates. ILOILO comes with a low-cost way of living, giving you a more relaxing and economically saving lifestyle. Hotels with high standards with low-cost pricing offering travelers great satisfaction. As so the city is developing progressively maintains its relaxing and laid back environment where you will truly experience comfort and relaxation. It's a combination of BUSINESS and LEISURE that will surely make you want more.

The hospitality and smile of its people, the genuine FILIPINO TRAITS that I am missing and believed not to fade. The change will affect people and places we used to visit but hoping that these changes in the future are for the betterment and those things we experience will remain; for a place will be remembered by the impression and the memories we experience.

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